Loose leaf binder



' June 931. I R. M. VAN VALKENBURGH ETAL LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 24, 1927 I N VEN TOR.

Richard HVanValkenBnr E11 Harem: EA- Es derle a} Patentedlune 16, .1931

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rslogzsia PATENT QFFECEL RICHARD ML'VAINVALKENBURGH. AND. CLARENCE A. cnnnatnnr, on KANSAS OI'lY,;-

MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNEASfiIGNMENTS.TOWILSON-JONES ooreranx, or

cnicneqgnrirrfors, A conronnrronor MASSACHUSETTS LOOSE" LEAF BINDER Application filed January 24,1927; Serial No. 163,073.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders and has for its primary-iobject the provision of means for precluding the locking or'unlocking of the mechanism therein, said means being movable to the operative posi tion only after the locking mechanism of the binder is in the locked position.

In particular this invention pertains to loose leaf bindershavinga hollow sheet engaging member which carries mechanism therein for locking the same to the posts of the binder, which mechanism is actuated by a suitable tool insertible throughthe end of the hollow sheet engaging member and it'is another "object ofthe instant invention to combine an auxiliary lock with the mechanism and sheet engaging member which will operate only after the post engaging mechanism has been'movedto the post engaged position, said auxiliary lock thereby serving the additional purpose ofasi'gnal to the operator to indicate the position of said mechanism." F

n An even further object of this invention is the provision ofaseparable keyfactuated means for precluding the unlocking of the post engaging mechanism of a looseflleaf binder, said means being inoperable until and unless said locking'mechanism is in the locked position. A r l A'yet further object ofthis invention is to provide inexpensive, strong and durable apparat'usfor carrying out the above objects whichmaybe combined with the well known loose leaf binder 0f theiend lock type and which'may be included in any binder of this character without prohibitive additional expense. v

-Minor objects will appear during the course of y the following detailed specification referring to but one form. of embodiment of the invention shown in the accom panyingdrawingsin which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section taken through the hollow sheet engaging member of a loose leaf binder, showing the auxiliary lock in place adjacent one end;

Fig.2 is a vertical longitudinal section of thesa me; f i n .Fig. 3- is an enlarged-cross-section taken on line III-III of 2,.looking in the direction of the arrow;

4c is a like section taken on line IV IV of Fig. 2; and r r Fig. 5 is an enlarged-perspective detail of the auxiliary 'locln'showing it in place on the end of the post engaging mechanism, parts being broken away to show the actuating screw for'said mechanism.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and the numerals 6 and 7 designate the two well known hollow sheet engaging members respectively of a loose leaf binder, one of which carries a plurality of posts 8 adapted toreceive the binder sheetsnot hereshown. The other of said sheet engaging members designatedby the numeral 7 maybe termed the-.followefiand as is customary is provided with openings 9 through which pass the posts 8. It is well known in the art that mechanism. is carried within member 7 to engagelposts 8 whereby further movement. alongthe same is precluded.

In the instance shown, this mechanism is of the end locktype and comprises a longitudis n'ally movable bar 10 having an elliptical opening 12 throughlwhich one of the posts 8 passes. In this instance, the binder has but two posts and the other passes upwardly through the plate 13 which is movahly sup} ported by plate 10 and through which a like elliptical opening 14 passes to accommodate the other -post8.. Plate 10 carries a screw threaded actuating elements 15 which engages plate 13 to move it toward and from post 8. This element 15'is actuated through the use of the ordinary key which is inserted through an opening 16 formed in the end cap 17 fitted over the end of sheetengaging memher 7. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the mechas nism in the post engaging position after the element 15has forced plate 13 against'the adjacent post 8 and has pulled bar 10 so that the other post-fis engaged by one edge of the elliptical opening 12; This-action is well knownin end lock bindersand takes place by virtue of the fact that element 15 is screw threaded through bar 10 as shown in Fig. 2. i

known and that part of the same which is made in accordance with this invention includes an auxiliary lock which is adapted to be moved into place only after the screw threaded element has been actuated to move the locking mechanism into the locked position. This auxiliary lock may consist of a guide member 18 held in place by attachment to that end of bar 10 supporting screw threaded element 15. This guide member should extend nearly to the end cap 17 when the mechanism is in the post engaging position. It is formed to provide a barrel 19 the outer end of which terminates in a registered relation with opening 16 in end cap 17, the other end of which houses the key engaging end of the element 15. A longitudinal slot 20 is formed along one side of the guide member 18 which communicates with the barrel 19 in such a way that the cylinder lock 21 may be inserted. This cylinder lock is a well known article of 'manufacture and may or may not be altered slightly to accommodate the conditions met in binders of different size.

After the post engaging mechanism has been moved to the post locking position, element 15 has been screwed out of barrel 19 as far as it will go and the space between the squared end of the element 15 and the end cap is just great enough to permit the insertion of the cylinder lock 21. After this cylinder lock has been inserted, its key may be turned to swing its lug 22 upwardly to engage the slot 23 formed in the guide member 18 and its barrel 19. When the lock 22 has reached the position shown. in Figures 1 and 2, the cylinder lock key may be removed and the post engaging mechanism cannot be moved to the unlocked position.

Manifestly if an attempt were made to insert cylinder lock 21 in the barrel and guide member 19 and 18 respectively before the screw threaded element 15 had been screwed in to the post locking position, the limit of inward movement would be reached before lug 22 would register with the slot 23. The key to the cylinder lock therefore could not be turned and an indication would at once be set up that the post engaging mechanism had not been moved to the post engaged position. This is one of the important features of the invention and is highly valuable in post binders of the end lock type. Obviously itwould be impossible to insert and lock this auxiliary cylinder look 21 before the user had actuated the post locking mechanism to the desired position. The guide member has here been shown rigidly secured to one end of bar 10, but it is understood that many modifications to the extent of changing the point of attachment may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a sheet-engaging member, a post passing therethrough, a locking member mounted in said first member for engaging said post, a guide member carried by said sheet-engaging member, a key-actuated device foroperating said locking member longitudinally movable in said guide member, and a lock removably disposed in said guide member adjacent and in the path of said device when the locking member is in engagement with the post, said lock being formed soas to be only insertable in a locked position when said post is engaged by said locking member.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a sheet-engaging member, a plurality of stationary posts secured to and extending from said member, a second sheet-engaging member having apertures for receiving said posts, locking means carried by said second member for engagement with said posts, rotatable means disposed in said second member for actuating said last-mentioned means to engage said post for locking said second member thereon and auxiliary locking means slidable in said second member for locking said rotatable means against operation, said auxiliary locking means being formed so as .to be only slidable to a locked position when said first means engages said post.

3. In a loose leafbinder, a plurality of sheet-engaging members, posts rigidly secured to one of said members and projecting through the other of said members, locking means carried by one of said members contacting with said posts for preventing movement of. said member thereon, and auxiliary locking means operable only when su'd first last member and positioned adjacent one end of said first locking means, said auxiliary locking means operable only when said first locking means-is in a locked position.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a sheet-engaging member, a plurality of impaling posts extending therethrough, a guide member carried by said sheet engaging member, means movably mounted in said sheet-engaging member adjacent one end of said guide member for locking said sheet-engaging member on said posts, and auxiliary locking means slidable into said guide memberadj acent said first means for precluding movement of the latter when said sheet-engaging. member is inlocked position.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of sheet-holding posts, a hollow sheet-engaging member slidably disposed on said posts, locking means therein engaging said posts for precluding movement of said member with respect to said posts, and a removable lock disposed in one end of said member adjacent and in the path of the locking means, said I.

lock being actuated to a locked position when said locking means engages said posts.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a sheet-engaging member, a plurality of impalingfposts extending therethrough, a. guide element dismember for engaging one of said posts, rotatable means in said member for actuating said first means to engage said post for locking said member to said post, a guide member positioned in said sheet-engaging member, and auxiliary locking means in said guide member adjacent said rotatable means for precluding, actuation of the latterv when said first member is locked to said post.

8. In a loose leaf binder, a sheet-engaging member, a plurality of posts passingtherethrough, means carried by said memberand engaging said posts for locking the member thereon, a tubular guide member disposed in said first member, said guide member having a locking recess therein,iand auxiliary looking means positioned in said guide member adj acentone end of said first means, said auxating said locking member, a guide element positioned in said sheet-engaging member adjacent said locking member,and auxiliary locking means disposed in said guide element for preventing movement of the locking member.

In testimonywhereof we have hereunto af- 1 fixed: our signatures.

RICHARD MLVAN YALKENBURGH.

CLARENCE A; CEDERLEAF.

iliary locking means including a barrel lock having a locking lug coacting with said looking recess for precluding actuation of said first means from engagement with said posts.

, 9. In a loose leaf binder, a sheet-engaging member, a post passing therethrough, a lock housing positioned in said member, and a double locking means in said housing, one of which is formed to lockingly engage the post and the other of which is formed to cooperate with said housing to lock said first locking means against operation when it is in engagement with said post.

10. Ina loose leaf binder, a sheet-engaging member, a second sheet-engaging member cooperating with said first member, a binder post secured to said second member and passing through said first member, a main look ing member carried by said first member movable to and from engagement with said post, a key actuated device for operating said locking member mounted in said first member, and an auxiliary locking member remov ably positioned in said first member adjacent one end of said device'for precluding actuation thereof. 1 11. In a loose leaf binder, a sheet-engaging member, a post passing therethrough, a lockingmember in said sheet-engaging member 7 movable to and from engagement with said post, a rotatable actuating device for oper- 

